The Standing Forward Bend stretches the entire backside of your body—and then makes you smarter. You heard us right: the pose increases the blood flow to your brain, supposedly stimulating intelligence.
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You Will Need
- Comfortable clothing suitable for stretching and moving
- A calm place where you won't be distracted or disturbed
- A yoga mat or folded blanket
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Step 1
Stand on mat
Stand in the middle of your mat with your legs together and your weight centered on the balls of your feet.
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Step 2
Stretch arms up
Inhale, and stretch both of your arms straight up overhead, alongside your ears.
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Step 3
Bend forward & grab legs
Keeping your legs straight, exhale and bend forward at the waist, reaching down and grabbing hold of the back of your legs wherever feels the most comfortable.
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Tip
As you gain flexibility in your legs, try different holds to get different stretches – looping your fingers around your big toes, sliding your fingers and palms under the front of your feet, or catching hold of your elbows behind your legs.
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Step 4
Relax head & neck
Keep your head and neck relaxed, allowing gravity to do its work.
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Step 5
Hold pose
Hold the pose, breathing smoothly and evenly for several breaths. As you get more comfortable with this pose, you'll be able to stay in it for minutes at a time.
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Step 6
Release pose
Release the pose by bringing your hands to your hips, lifting the straight torso to waist-level so it's parallel to the floor, and then raising it up straight on an inhale. Don't you look smart.
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Fact
The word hamstring comes from the ancient Teutonic word "ham," meaning "crooked"—in other words, the knee.
